Case study for national flooding: UK winter 2013/2014

Earth hazards Case study for national flooding: UK storms winter 2013/2014Large storms that affected most of the UK throughout the winter of 2013/2014with several intense storms including heavy rain, strong winds, and storm surgescausing lots of damage.Cause Huge low pressure depressions in Atlantic causing intense rain and stormy seas Spring tides intensified damage on coasts some tides reached 8.2m in height. Storm surge caused by low pressure system over North Sea which funnelled waves and high tides down the coast.Effect Coastal flooding was a huge danger. Several fatalities occurred and huge levels of damage to property and transport. On the Norfolk coast at Hemsby several homes fell into the sea overnight as the storm surge caused lots of sudden erosion of the vulnerable sand dunes which had few man made coastal defences. Highest tides in 17 years 80mph+ gales Mainly harbour villages that got affected as they are near deeper areas of water. Thousands of homes left without power Transport links severely affected by flood damage and signalling issues caused by lightning strikes, with long delays on trains.Reponses Flood warnings issued by environment agency. Over 30 severe flood warnings issued in early January and over 230 flood warnings. Operation Cobra was activated which is a system which deals with any disaster in the UK and is very rarely activated. Dealt with planning and prevention and improving flood warnings and defences. Thames barrier closed 10 times during January 2014, usually it is closed 10 times during the whole year.